419 scam: "Frank Murphy"<betty@wttax.com> CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON $750,000 USD

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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
The following phrases in this message should put you on alert:
- "fiduciary agent" (real lotteries do not use a "claim agent" / "fiduciary agent")
- "kleinalexander@w.cn" (this email address has been used in a known scam)
This email message is a fake lottery scam. Consider the following facts about real lotteries:
1. They don't notify winners by email.
2. You can't win without first buying a lottery ticket.
3. They don't randomly select email addresses to award prizes to.
4. They don't use free email accounts (Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) to communicate with you.
5. They don't tell you to call a mobile phone number.
6. They don't tell you to keep your winnings secret.
7. They will never ask a winner to pay any fees to receive a prize!

Fraud email example:

From: "Frank Murphy" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <frankmurphy65@live.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2012 05:22:29 -0400
Subject: CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON $750,000 USD

CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU HAVE WON $750,000 USD

You have been awarded $750,000 USD in the SWISS-LOTTO Satellite
Software email lottery in which e-mail addresses are picked randomly
by Software powered by the Internet through the worldwide website,
your email address was amongst those Chosen this year for the
SWISS-LOTTO Satellite lottery. And this promotional program is proudly
sponsored by the SWISS-LOTTO organization.

Your email address attached to Ref number 5, 7, 14, 17, 18, 43 with
Serial 10, and consequently won the lottery in the "A" Category. You
have therefore been approved for a lump sum pay out of $750,000 USD.
Number 1979-12 drew the lucky Numbers 101979-12 drew the lucky Numbers
please note that you are lucky winning number falls within our Booklet
representative. In View of this, your winning prize will be released
to you by our fiduciary agent.

Our agent will immediately commence the process to facilitate the
release of your winning funds as soon as you Contact them. This
promotion takes place annually. For security reasons, you are advised
to keep your winning details confidential till your claims is
processed and your Winning funds remitted to you in whatever manner
you deem fit to Claim your prize. This is part of our precautionary
measure to avoid double claiming and unwarranted the abuse of this
program by some unscrupulous elements.

To file for your claim, please contact our fiduciary agent:
Mr Klein Alexander
Email: kleinalexander@w.cn

Provide him with the information as stated below:
(1) Name:
(2) Address:
(3) Marital:
(4) Age:
(5) Sex:
(6) Nationality:
(7) Country of Residence:
(8) Occupation:
(9) Telephone Number:
(10)Fax Number:
(11)Draw Number above:

These details facilitate the due process and the release of winnings
to avoid Unnecessary delays and complications in the processing of
your Winnings.
Congratulations once more from all members and staff of this program.

Sincerely,
Mr. Frank Murphy
Online Games Director
SWISS-LOTTO NETHERLANDS
http://www.swisslotto.ch

Anti-fraud resources:

What can you do when you receive 419 spam